From time to time, science and art come together to create a way to completely revitalize your smile. Such is the case with Exceptional Dentures, the extraordinary neuromuscular dentistry procedure. With Exceptional Dentures, you may never have to worry about uncomfortable or unreliable dentures again. Read on to learn about how Exceptional Dentures may be able to renew your smile today.

• The Evolution of Dentures
• The Basics of Neuromuscular Dentistry
• The Process
• Combining Art & Science

The Evolution of Dentures

Artificial teeth have been around for thousands of years. Evidence suggests that ivory or bone replacements were used for lost teeth as early as 700 B.C. In modern times, tooth loss has declined greatly due to improved dental care and fluoride treatments. However, some experts predict that as the baby boom generation ages, the number of people needing dentures will increase. The good news is that advances in dental technology have made dentures more effective than ever in replacing lost teeth.

The Basics of Neuromuscular Dentistry

More than 40 years ago, dentists started developing dentures based on neuromuscular principles. Over the years, this approach has been refined through technological advances in restorative dentistry. Modern instrumentation and materials are leading an ever greater number of dentists to offer neuromuscular dentistry (NMD) to their patients, and Dr. Petrilli is one of them. With the Exceptional Dentures procedure, developed by James Carlson, Dr. Petrilli combines state-of-the-art technology with extensive experience in dentistry and art to make superior dentures that not only fit comfortably, but also look completely natural.

Dentists specializing in NMD focus on muscles and joints as well as teeth. NMD involves the study of computer-generated information about the function and status of the muscles and joints that control your bite. The dentist uses this information in tandem with information provided by traditional diagnostic procedures. The combination of information allows the dentist to optimize your bite, which makes for better functionality and better-fitting dentures.

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The Process

Traditional Dentures

When a dentist replaces a single tooth, the rest of the patient’s teeth are used as a reference to determine how high the new tooth should be. When a patient has no teeth, it is somewhat difficult to determine how high the upper and lower teeth should be since there is nothing to serve as a reference. Traditionally, the dentist makes an arbitrary decision as to where to establish the bite. While this technique has been used with some success in the past, it can lead to problems with chewing or speaking, as well as considerable discomfort or pain and an unnatural look.

Neuromuscular Dentures

NMD allows Dr. Petrilli to precisely measure the activity of the muscles that control the jaw. Because of this, he can determine the optimum jaw position based on what your own body dictates when your jaw muscles are relaxed. Dr. Petrilli will also look for abnormalities in the way your jaw functions and try to correct them when finalizing the dentures. Using state-of-the-art technology, Dr. Petrilli will take impressions of your teeth that will be used to create a denture base. The soft tissues of the cheeks will hold the base in place, which will prevent looseness of the dentures.

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Combining Art & Science

The scientific aspects of NMD involve establishing the bite and recognizing problems with function through computer-aided diagnosis. The art comes in when the dentist finalizes the design of the dentures. Dr. Petrilli has given a large amount of study to the art of making dentures that are natural-looking and pleasing to the eye. When it comes to tooth selection and placement, the art is in the details, including:

• The size of the teeth
• The angle of denture placement
• Height/Width ratios
• Color
• Shade

By customizing these different aspects of your dentures, Dr. Petrilli will give you a smile that looks natural, feels comfortable, and lights up a room!

Fully functional dentures that look and feel great can build your self-confidence while offering comfort and usability when you chew and speak. For years denture patients have desired dentures that not only fit comfortably but also look completely natural. With Exceptional Dentures, you can finally have the best of both worlds!

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Please contact our office in Apopka, Florida, with questions about Exceptional Dentures, or to schedule an appointment.